Admission and Application

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Stem Cell Biology M.S. program will depend on the following requirements:

• B.S., B.A., or a foreign equivalent in biological sciences or a related field
• An operational standard of 3.20 GPA (on a 4-point scale) at the undergraduate level
• International applicants: Minimum English language proficiency: TOEFL score (obtained within two years) of 580 paper-based, with a minimum score of 4 in the TWE, or 92 internet based, with a minimum score of 21 on each of the two components. Requirement for the IELTS is 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in each of the four components).

Application Process

Applying to the SCB Master’s program is a two-part process. Students must apply to both the Graduate School and the SCB program. Students do not apply to individual faculty members; admission recommendations are made by the SCB program advisory committee and then forwarded to the Graduate School for finalization.

The Graduate School application process is as follows:

1. Complete the Graduate School’s online application form.
2. Submit the application fee of $75 for US citizen/permanent resident ($95 for international students).  Send the following documents directly to the Graduate School:
3. • Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended
   • TOEFL scores (international applicants only)

The Graduate School address is:

University of Minnesota Graduate School
Office of Admissions, 309 Johnston Hall
101 Pleasant Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0421

The SCB program application process is as follows:

1. Write a personal statement (500 words or less) outlining previous research experience, research interests, long and short term goals. Upload your personal statement to Statement #1 in the Applicant Statements section of the online application. We will download your statement from there.
2. Submit a curriculum vitae or resume. Your CV or resume can be uploaded to the Graduate Program Supplementary Information section.
3. Provide two letters of recommendation addressing your ability to pursue graduate study and previous research experience.
4. Submit copies of the following documents:
     Transcripts
     TOEFL scores (international applicants only)

The materials above may be sent via mail or electronically to:

Lauri Andersen
Stem Cell Institute
2001 SE 6^th Street, Mail Code 2873
Minneapolis, MN 55455-3007
E-mail address:  ander607@umn.edu
Fax number:        612-624-2436

Application Deadlines

The application deadline for Fall semester enrollment is May 31, 2010.  All application materials must be received by both the Graduate School and the SCB program prior to this deadline.

Application deadline – May 31
Admission notification – July 15
Commitment by student – July 31st
Program start – Fall semester 

Deadlines may be flexible to allow for the recruitment of exceptional students.

Financial Support

The Stem Cell Biology Graduate program cannot currently provide financial support for M.S. students.  For information about possible funding sources, click  here.

Questions?

Questions regarding the application process or the SCB graduate program in general can be directed to Lauri Andersen at ander607@umn.edu